Scalloped Hammerhead: Iconic Queensland fishery saved

Press Release

Seafood Industry Australia (SIA)

13. September 2018

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“Today (September 12, 2018) the Senate voted against a disallowance put forward by Senator Whish-Wilson regarding Scallop Hammerhead sharks in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP),” Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) CEO Jane Lovell said.

“We thank the Senate majority for their support of Australia’s sustainable and well managed professional fishing industry.

“Just like the broader community, Australia’s professional fishers care about the marine environment and we understand the need to protect certain species and work to ensure the long-term sustainability of fish stocks.

“This disallowance was just another misguided attempt to shut commercial fishing by targeting a species that is well managed in Australia.

“We acknowledge the Scallop Hammerhead is an internationally sensitive species, but Australia’s fishers should not be penalised for international issues when our local stocks are so well managed.

“These continued attacks on Australia’s sustainable, well-managed fisheries are causing unprecedented stresses on our fishers, who experience twice the base-rate of psychological stress of any other sector. Significant contributing factors to this mental health issue are these ongoing attacks and continued threats to resource access. Enough is enough, these attacks need to stop and our fishers need to be allowed to focus on the future of their sustainable businesses.”

“Today’s vote in the Senate demonstrates the power of industry working together through education and creation of an open dialogue with our elected officials, “Queensland Seafood Industry Association (QSIA) CEO Eric Perez said.

“The vote in the Senate also demonstrates that the use of science, as opposed to biased claims that take aim at the commercial fishing industry, can win the day.

“This industry is important, in Queensland wild harvest fishing is worth close to $180 million, which is predominantly harvested for sale to Queensland and Australian seafood consumers.

“This is a well-deserved win for commonsense and a fisheries management outcome that is based on science”.

Source: SIA

 

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